Suspended ceiling system

ABSTRACT

A mounting bracket is provided for attaching a suspended ceiling molding having a longitudinal slot to a main ceiling structure as part of a suspended coffered ceiling. The mounting bracket has an intermediate portion from which opposite wing portions project. Back sides of the wing and intermediate portions form together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure. Each wing portion has one or more holes for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure. A front side of the intermediary portion protrudes relative to front sides of the wing portions. A clipping arrangement project from the front side of the intermediary portion and is clippingly engageable with the slot of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to suspended ceilings and moreparticularly to mounting brackets for attaching suspended ceilingmoldings to a main ceiling structure, a ceiling system with the bracketsand moldings for suspending ceiling panels, and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Modern ceilings often use moldings, which provide more ceiling designand style options. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,359,802 (Burnett et al.),an otherwise ordinary ceiling may become more attractive with theaddition of moldings supported by bracket assemblies made of multipleelements.

There are various models of suspended ceilings. One commonly known modelconsists of a grid of metal channels in the shape of an upside-down “T”,suspended on wires from an overhead structure to form cells filled withceiling tiles or panels which simply drop into the grid. Lately,suspended ceilings with moldings have emerged to take the appearance ofsuspended coffered ceilings. Published US patent application No.2012/055109 (Labonté et al.) provides an example of a suspended ceilingwith custom moldings supported by bracket assemblies made of multipleelements.

There is an ongoing demand for installation of suspended ceilings invarious environments as part of repair and refurbishment works. Suchenvironments vary considerably, from simple structural beams to ceilingsfinished with uneven stucco. There is a need for a low cost, easy toinstall suspended ceiling system utilizing moldings yet taking littlevertical space and adaptable to different types of ceiling surfaces orstructures.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided amounting bracket for attaching a suspended ceiling molding to a mainceiling structure, the ceiling molding having a longitudinal slot, themounting bracket comprising:

-   -   an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting        from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate        portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of        the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface        positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each        wing portion having at least one hole extending between the        front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the        mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side        of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front        sides of the wing portions; and    -   a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the        intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of        the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding interlocks with        the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a        clipping position inside the slot.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda ceiling system for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceilingstructure, the ceiling system comprising:

-   -   a set of suspended ceiling moldings each having longitudinal        opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides        of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot; and    -   mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings to the main        ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having:    -   an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting        from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate        portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of        the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface        positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each        wing portion having at least one hole extending between the        front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the        mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side        of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front        sides of the wing portions; and    -   a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the        intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of        one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding        interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping        arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceiling structure,the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a set of ceiling moldings each having longitudinal        opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides        of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot;    -   providing mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings        to the main ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having:        -   an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions            projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and            intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides,            the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming            together a surface positionable directly against the main            ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one            hole extending between the front and back sides for passage            of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main            ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary            portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing            portions; and        -   a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the            intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot            of one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding            interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping            arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot;    -   providing an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings each        having opposite end flange portions shaped to be received and        supported on the flange portions of the suspended ceiling        moldings having the longitudinal slots;    -   fastening the mounting brackets directly to the main ceiling        structure with fasteners inserted in the holes of the mounting        brackets, the mounting brackets being oriented and spaced from        one another so that the clipping arrangements form attachment        lines for the ceiling moldings with the slots;    -   clipping the ceiling moldings with the slots to the mounting        brackets;    -   suspending the ceiling moldings with the end flange portions        between the ceiling moldings with the slots to form a grid-like        pattern of cells; and    -   suspending the ceiling panels in the cells between the ceiling        moldings with the slots and the ceiling moldings with the end        flange portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments will be given hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the ceiling systemaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of a mounting bracket with amolding clipped thereto according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of a mounting bracket with amolding clipped thereto according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket according to theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a mounting bracket according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a mounting bracket according to theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a mounting bracket according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a molding according tothe invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective partial view of a clipping arrangement in a slotof a ceiling molding according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective partially exploded view from above of asuspended ceiling system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the ceiling system2 according to the invention. A mounting bracket 4 is provided forattaching a suspended ceiling molding 6 to a main ceiling structure 8that may be made of beams or be an already existing ceiling structurefor example made of gypsum boards, stucco or concrete.

Referring to FIG. 8, the ceiling molding 6 has an upper longitudinalslot 10, preferably a T-slot having an undercut 36 below an upper plane38 of the ceiling molding 6 and defining opposite inner shouldersurfaces 32.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mounting bracket 4 has an intermediate portion12 and opposite wing portions 14 projecting from the intermediateportion 12. The wing portions 14 and the intermediate portion 12 haveopposite back and front sides 16, 18, 20, 22. The back sides 16, 20 ofthe wing and intermediate portions 14, 12 form together a surfacepositionable directly against the main ceiling structure 8 (as shown inFIG. 1). The surface formed by the back sides 16, 20 of the wing andintermediate portions 14, 12, which may be referred to as an undersideof the mounting bracket 4, is preferably generally planar so as to befully or mostly in contact with the main ceiling structure 8 (as shownin FIG. 1) when the mounting bracket 4 is fastened to it. Each wingportion 14 has one or more holes 24 extending between the front and backsides 18, 16 for passage of a fastener 26 (as shown in FIG. 1) forfastening the mounting bracket 4 to the main ceiling structure 8 (asshown in FIG. 1). The front side 22 of the intermediary portion 12protrudes relative to the front sides 18 of the wing portions 14 toprovide space for installation of ceiling panels (or tiles) 28 (as shownin FIG. 1). The front side 22 also plays the role of interface betweenthe ceiling molding 6 and the mounting bracket 4 and may contribute toisostatism of the parts. It may also compensate for variations in theceiling.

The mounting bracket 4 has a clipping arrangement 30 projecting from thefront side 22 of the intermediary portion 12 and clippingly engageablewith the slot 10 of the ceiling molding 6 so that the ceiling molding 6interlocks with the mounting bracket 4 when the clipping arrangement 30reaches a clipping position inside the slot 10, as is the case in FIG.2. The clipping may be such as to still allow sliding of the mountingbracket 4 relative to the ceiling molding 6 along the slot 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, the opposite inner shoulder surfaces 32 of the slot10 are spaced apart from each other so that the clipping arrangement 30is insertable between them. The clipping arrangement 30 preferably hasopposite clip portions 34 extending at a distance from the front side 22of the intermediary portion 12 and projecting away from each other sothat the clip portions 34 snappingly engage against respective ones ofthe shoulder surfaces 32 when the clipping arrangement 30 reaches theclipping position inside the slot 10, thereby interlocking the ceilingmolding 6 with the mounting bracket 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the clipping arrangement 30 preferably has twospaced apart generally parallel resiliently depressable tab portions 40extending outwardly from the front side 22 of the intermediary portion12. The clip portions 34 respectively project from opposite outersurfaces of the resilient tab portions 40 and have respective flangesurfaces 42 extending beyond respective facing edges of the shouldersurfaces 32 (as shown in FIG. 3) when the clipping arrangement 30 is inthe clipping position inside the slot 10 (as shown in FIG. 3). Each clipportion 34 preferably has a wedge shape forwardly tapering in adirection away from the front side 22 of the intermediary portion 12 sothat the clip portion 34 and the tab portion 40 exhibit a harpoon-likeprofile facilitating insertion of the clipping arrangement 30 in theslot 10 (as shown in FIG. 3). The wedge shape has a back surface formingthe flange surface 42 of the corresponding clip portion 34.

Referring to FIG. 9, the tab portions 40 may have outer tab surfaces 44facing away from each other and spaced apart from each other by adistance corresponding, with some play or not, to a width of a gap ofthe slot 10 so that the outer tab surfaces 44 mainly extend againstfacing surfaces 46 defining the gap of the slot 10 when the clippingarrangement 30 is in the clipping position inside the slot 10. Also, thefront side 22 of the intermediary portion 12 may have a generally flatsurface, and the distance of the clip portions 34 with respect to theflat surface may correspond to a distance between the inner shouldersurfaces 32 and the upper plane 38 (as shown in FIG. 8) of the ceilingmolding 6 so that the ceiling molding 6 abuts against the flat surfacewhen the clipping arrangement 30 is in the clipping position. Thisconfiguration of the clipping arrangement 30 with the slot 10 ensuresthat the ceiling molding 6 is very stable when clipped to the mountingbracket 4 (as shown e.g. in FIG. 2).

Referring back to FIG. 4, the wing portions 14 may have elongated shapesso that multiple holes 24 may be distributed along the wing portions 14.This allows using multiple fasteners 26 to secure the wing portions 14to the main ceiling structure 8 (as shown in FIG. 1) and provides morepossible fastening positions. The holes 24 may be positioned so thatthey match fastening positions depending on a width of the ceilingmolding 6 (as shown in FIG. 1) to be used. For example, the holes 24 maybe arranged so that the first two holes 24 of each wing portion 14 fromthe intermediary portion 12 can be used for a 2½ inch wide ceilingmolding 6, the second and third holes 24 for a 3½ wide ceiling molding6, and the third and forth holes 24 for a 4½ inch wide ceiling molding6.

The wing portions 14 may have transverse break-away grooves 48 spacedlongitudinally of the wing portions 14. The grooves 48 may form marksshowing where the wing portions 14 may be cut with a saw or anotherappropriate tool depending on a width of the ceiling molding 6 (as showne.g. in FIG. 1) to be used, and a position of the mounting bracket 4 onthe main ceiling structure 8 (as shown in FIG. 1). Typically, one wingportion 14 will be cut when positioning the mounting bracket 4 close toa corner of the main ceiling structure 8 with a vertical wall (not shownin the Figures).

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the holes 24 are preferably through holesextending between the front and back sides 18, 16 of the wing portions14 as better shown in FIG. 6. The holes 24 preferably have a funnel-likeshape extending from the front side 18 to the rear side 16 of the wingportions 14, so that fasteners 26 (as shown in FIG. 1) such ascountersunk head screws may be fully embed in the wing portions 14,thereby leaving more space for installation of the ceiling panels 28 (asshown e.g. in FIG. 1) and reducing the risk of scratching or damagingtheir edges. The funnel-like shape may be defined by a front conicalsurface 50 as better shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, followed by an oblong rearsurface 52 in the wing portion 14. The front conical surface 50 may haveopposite sides respectively closer to and farther from the intermediaryportion 12, the side farther from the intermediary portion 12 having aslant angle greater than a slant angle of the side closer to theintermediary portion 12 for slanted or straight insertion of a fastener26 so that the mounting bracket 4 may be installed as function ofvarious angles without additional structures. The holes 24 may haveother shapes and even not extend completely through the wing portions 16so as to be partial from the front sides 18 of the wing portions 16 ifdesired.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the front sides 18, 22 of the wing andintermediary portions 14, 12 may have bevelled edges 54, for example toremove sharp edges or lighten the mounting bracket 4 and reducing theamount of material to make it while allowing reducing strains andimproving its lifetime. It may also facilitate the stripping of themounting bracket 4 when manufactured by a molding process.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, the back sides 16, 20 of the wing andintermediary portions 14, 12 may have weight lightening recesses 56separated by straightening ribs 58.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the wing and intermediary portions 14, 12 andthe clipping arrangement 30 may advantageously be made of one singlepiece of plastic material. Referring also to FIGS. 6 and 7, slots 66 mayextend in the intermediary portion 12 on outer sides of the clippingarrangement 30 for injection process purposes. The mounting bracket 4may be made of other materials and with other manufacturing processesand the mounting bracket 4 may be made of multiple pieces assembledtogether if desired, although the single piece model is preferred as itmay be cheaper to make and be more robust.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown an embodiment of a ceiling systemfor suspending ceiling panels 28 from a main ceiling structure 8 (asshown in FIG. 1) according to the invention, to form a suspended cofferceiling. The ceiling system has a set of suspended ceiling moldings 6each having longitudinal opposite side flange portions 60 as bettershown in FIG. 8, for receiving and supporting sides of the ceilingpanels 28. Mounting brackets 4 are provided for attaching the ceilingmoldings 6 to the main ceiling structure 8 as described above. In FIG.10, only two mounting brackets 4 are shown but it should be understoodthat many more are used in a suspended ceiling installation to provideappropriate support for the ceiling moldings 6, the ceiling panels 28and an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings 62 intended toextend between successive ceiling panels 28 to produce the coffer shape.The suspended ceiling moldings 52 have opposite end flange portions 64adapted to form overlap joints with the side flange portions 60 of theceiling moldings 6. The ceiling moldings 6 and 62 may have an elongatedshape and the ceiling molding 6 may exhibit a flat T-shaped profile(inverted when installed) as better shown in FIG. 8.

A method for suspending the ceiling panels 28 from the main ceilingstructure 8 (as shown in FIG. 1) may proceed as follows. Sets of ceilingmoldings 6 and 62 and mounting brackets 4 are provided. The mountingbrackets 4 are fastened directly to the main ceiling structure 8 withfasteners 26 (as shown in FIG. 1) inserted in the holes 24 (as showne.g. in FIG. 1) of the mounting brackets 4. The mounting brackets 4 areoriented and spaced from one another so that their clipping arrangements30 (as shown e.g. in FIG. 2) form attachment lines for the ceilingmoldings 6. The ceiling moldings 6 are clipped to the mounting brackets4. The ceiling moldings 62 are suspended between rows of the ceilingmoldings 6 to form a grid-like pattern of coffers, while the ceilingpanels 28 are suspended in the coffers between the ceiling moldings 6and 62. The clipping may be performed before the fastening for some ofthe ceiling moldings 6 with the slots 10 and their respective mountingbrackets 4, for example for the ceiling moldings 6 that are not close toa wall. The mounting brackets 4 may then be slid along the ceilingmoldings 6 at the desired fastening position, and then fastened to themain ceiling structure 8 (as shown in FIG. 1). Typically but notrestrictively, installation of the suspended ceiling according to theinvention begins by fastening a series of mounting brackets 4 to themain ceiling structure 8 along a wall (not shown), generally one of theshortest walls of the room. The wing portions 14 of the mountingbrackets 4 on the side of the wall are generally cut in that case. Theceiling moldings 6 are then clipped to the mounting brackets 4 to form aprimary molding row. In the case of mounting brackets 4 made of a singlepiece of plastic and moldings 6 and ceiling panels 28 made of woodparticles, six mounting brackets 4 may be enough for fixing a ceilingmolding 6 of twelve feet. The number of mounting brackets 4 to be usedmay vary for example depending on the materials of the parts, and onwhether lamps or other equipment is to be supported by the suspendedceiling system. For the other primary molding rows to be installed inparallel with the first one, the ceiling moldings 6 are normally firstclipped to the mounting brackets 4 and the mounting brackets arefastened to the main ceiling structure 8 afterward using the reachableholes 24 of the mounting brackets 4. The ceiling is completed by layingthe secondary (transverse) moldings 62 supported by the primary moldings6, interspersed with ceiling panels 28.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to thoseskilled in the art that modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention. For example, referring to FIG. 3, theclipping arrangement 30 may extend in a lengthwise direction of themounting bracket 4 or any other direction if desired instead ofextending crosswise. Although the above described embodiment of theclipping arrangement 30 is preferred, other embodiments may beconsidered. For example, the clip portions 34 may project from oppositesides of a single tab member and be made of compressible material thatexpand back into initial state once the clipping position is reached.There could be only one clip portion 34 instead of two if the clippingarrangement 30 snugly fits in the slot 10 when in the clipping positionso as to prevent tilting of the ceiling molding 6. The clippingarrangement 30 could be formed of a tab member provided with barbs orteeth (not shown) arranged to hook against the sides of the slot 10which could also be provided with meshing barbs or teeth (not shown).

The ceiling moldings 6, 62 may be straight or curving if desired and theceiling panels 28 may have shapes matching the shapes of the ceilingmoldings 6, 62. The ceiling moldings 6, 62 may be made of wood, plastic,aluminum or other materials, preferably lightweight, and may be solid orhollowed out for example if produced by an extrusion process.

The fasteners 26 (as shown in FIG. 1) are preferably screws, but othertypes of fasteners such as nails or staples may be used if desired aslong as they allow fixing the brackets 4 to the main ceiling structure 8with enough retention strength to support the weight of the ceilingmoldings 6, 62, panels 28 and other possible ceiling elements to besupported by the suspending ceiling.

The ceiling system according to the invention can be installed even whenthe flatness of the surface of the main ceiling structure 8 exceeds ⅛inch and even when the surface is made of friable material whilemaintaining the physical integrity of the ceiling as it then becomes asupporting structure itself. Thus, it does not require tediouspreparation operations of the main ceiling structure surface prior toits installation, for example when the surface is made of stucco. Whenthe mounting bracket 4 is made of a single piece, the ceiling systemremains adaptable to various surface types while the installingoperations are simplified. Furthermore, the ceiling system according tothe invention may have a drop down thickness of less than 1 inch(distance between the suspended ceiling and the main ceiling structure)so as to reduce wasted space. Preferably, the mounting bracket 4 issimple and homogenous and does not exhibit a sudden change in directionthat could reduce a capacity to form it by injection without creatingair bubbles. Homogeny in terms of chemical composition may beadvantageous to limit presence of porosity and to increase loadcapacity. The mounting bracket 4 may have a length of 6½ inches and awidth of 1¼ inch. The wing portions 14 may have a height or thickness of¼ inch, the intermediary portion may have a height or thickness of ¼inch, and the clipping arrangement 30 may have a height of ¼ inch, sothat the mounting bracket 4 may have a height of ¼ inch from itsunderside to the tips of the clipping arrangement 30. The mountingbracket 4 may have other sizes if desired.

1. A mounting bracket for attaching a suspended ceiling molding to a main ceiling structure, the ceiling molding having a longitudinal slot, the mounting bracket comprising: an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.
 2. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the slot has opposite inner shoulder surfaces between which the clipping arrangement is insertable, the clipping arrangement having opposite clip portions extending at a distance from the front side of the intermediary portion and projecting away from each other so that the clip portions snappingly engage against respective ones of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement reaches the clipping position inside the slot, thereby interlocking the ceiling molding with the mounting bracket.
 3. The mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein the slot is a T-slot having an undercut below a plane of the ceiling molding and defining the inner shoulder surfaces, and the clipping arrangement has two spaced apart generally parallel resiliently depressable tab portions extending outwardly from the front side of the intermediary portion, the clip portions respectively projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the resilient tab portions and having respective flange surfaces extending beyond respective facing edges of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot.
 4. The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein each clip portion has a wedge shape forwardly tapering in a direction away from the front side of the intermediary portion, the wedge shape having a back surface forming the flange surface of the clip portion.
 5. The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the tab portions have outer tab surfaces facing away from each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance substantially corresponding to a width of a gap of the slot so that the outer tab surfaces extend substantially against facing surfaces defining the gap of the slot when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot.
 6. The mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein the front side of the intermediary portion has a generally flat surface, and the distance of the clip portions with respect to the flat surface substantially corresponds to a distance between the inner shoulder surfaces and a plane of the ceiling molding so that the ceiling molding abuts against the flat surface when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position.
 7. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the wing portions have elongated shapes, and said at least one hole comprising multiple holes distributed along the wing portions.
 8. The mounting bracket according to claim 7, wherein the wing portions have transverse break-away grooves spaced longitudinally of the wing portions.
 9. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hole comprises a through hole extending between the front and back sides of a corresponding one of the wing portions.
 10. The mounting bracket according to claim 9, wherein the through hole has a funnel-like shape extending from the front side to the rear side of a corresponding one of the wing portions.
 11. The mounting bracket according to claim 10, wherein the funnel-like shape is defined by a front conical surface followed by an oblong rear surface in a corresponding one of the wing portion, the front conical surface having opposite sides respectively closer to and farther from the intermediary portion, the side farther from the intermediary portion having a slant angle greater than a slant angle of the side closer to the intermediary portion for slanted or straight insertion of a fastener.
 12. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the surface formed by the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions is generally planar.
 13. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the front sides of the wing and intermediary portions have bevelled edges.
 14. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the back sides of the wing and intermediary portions have weight lightening recesses separated by straightening ribs.
 15. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the wing and intermediary portions and the clipping arrangement are made of one single piece of plastic material.
 16. A ceiling system for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceiling structure, the ceiling system comprising: a set of suspended ceiling moldings each having longitudinal opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot; and mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings to the main ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having: an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot.
 17. The ceiling system according to claim 16, wherein the slot of each ceiling molding is a T-slot having an undercut below a plane of the ceiling molding and defining inner shoulder surfaces between which the clipping arrangement of one of the mounting brackets is insertable, the clipping arrangement having opposite clip portions extending at a distance from the front side of the intermediary portion and projecting away from each other so that the clip portions snappingly engage against respective ones of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement reaches the clipping position inside the slot, thereby interlocking the ceiling molding with the mounting bracket.
 18. The ceiling system according to claim 17, wherein the clipping arrangement of each mounting bracket has two spaced apart generally parallel resiliently depressable tab portions extending outwardly from the front surface of the intermediary portion, the clip portions respectively projecting from opposite outer surfaces of the resilient tab portions and having respective flange surfaces extending beyond respective facing edges of the shoulder surfaces when the clipping arrangement is in the clipping position inside the slot.
 19. The ceiling system according to claim 16, wherein each ceiling molding has an elongated shape and has a substantially flat T-shaped profile.
 20. The ceiling system according to claim 16, further comprising an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings each having opposite end flange portions shaped to be received and supported on the flange portions of the suspended ceiling moldings with the longitudinal slots.
 21. A method for suspending ceiling panels from a main ceiling structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a set of ceiling moldings each having longitudinal opposite side flange portions for receiving and supporting sides of the ceiling panels, and an upper longitudinal slot; providing mounting brackets for attaching the ceiling moldings to the main ceiling structure, each mounting bracket having: an intermediate portion and opposite wing portions projecting from the intermediate portion, the wing and intermediate portions having opposite back and front sides, the back sides of the wing and intermediate portions forming together a surface positionable directly against the main ceiling structure, each wing portion having at least one hole extending between the front and back sides for passage of a fastener for fastening the mounting bracket to the main ceiling structure, the front side of the intermediary portion protruding relative to the front sides of the wing portions; and a clipping arrangement projecting from the front side of the intermediary portion and clippingly engageable with the slot of one of the ceiling moldings so that the ceiling molding interlocks with the mounting bracket when the clipping arrangement reaches a clipping position inside the slot; providing an additional set of suspended ceiling moldings each having opposite end flange portions shaped to be received and supported on the flange portions of the suspended ceiling moldings having the longitudinal slots; fastening the mounting brackets directly to the main ceiling structure with fasteners inserted in the holes of the mounting brackets, the mounting brackets being oriented and spaced from one another so that the clipping arrangements form attachment lines for the ceiling moldings with the slots; clipping the ceiling moldings with the slots to the mounting brackets; suspending the ceiling moldings with the end flange portions between the ceiling moldings with the slots to form a grid-like pattern of coffers; and suspending the ceiling panels in the coffers between the ceiling moldings with the slots and the ceiling moldings with the end flange portions.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of clipping is performed before the step of fastening for some of the ceiling moldings with the slots and their respective mounting brackets. 